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ANU Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Commerce student Arlene Mendoza has been awarded one of two Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Women in Broadcast Technology (WIBT) Scholarships for 2016.

Arlene received the award from ABC Deputy Director of Technology, Margaret Cassidy and ABC Technology Client Support Manager, Patrick Sproule at a ceremony on Tuesday 6 September.

The Scholarship will provide Arlene with four weeks of paid work experience with the ABC Technology team in Canberra, along with a $1,000 book allowance towards her studies.

Arlene will gain first-hand experience of the technical side of broadcasting – how the equipment works, how radio and television is produced, transmitted and how to keep programs on-air when things go wrong.

“Outside of Defence, there aren’t many industries offering work experience. The ABC is different; it’s not every day you can say that you work for the nation’s broadcaster!” Arlene says.

“As I’m majoring in electronics and communication systems through my engineering degree, I’m looking forward to seeing the practical application of these fields at the ABC.”

Director of the ANU Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, Professor Saman Halgamuge has congratulated Arlene on her scholarship.

“We are delighted that Arlene has been awarded this scholarship. Arlene is an outstanding student of the College, who actively participates in a variety of extra-curricular activities and we hope her award will encourage more women to consider a diverse and rewarding career in engineering.”

The ABC WIBT program has been running for over 20 years and encourages women to consider a career in the traditionally male-dominated broadcasting and IT fields.

Arlene’s advice to girls considering studying engineering is to “forget the stigma – just go for it!”

Applications for the next round of ABC Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarships will open in March 2017.